"People comment over the years, 'I don't know how you stay in business, but please don't ever close,'" said Bud Burwell, who now owns the business with his wife, Susan.

Right now, if we were betting people, we'd give the bookstore better odds than various home builders, student loan companies, and cellphone providers. When the dust settles, it and this august, albeit mustard-yellow institution may very well be the last two awesome Reston businesses standing.